Orioles and right-hander Zach Eflin reach an agreement with which Baltimore attempts to improve its roster after a disappointing 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Sunday the signing of right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year contract to keep him with the team as they continue to invest in their roster after a disappointing 2025 season.
Elfin’s agreement is for 10 million dollars, as confirmed by a source to Alden Gonzalez of ESPNand includes a mutual option for the 2027 season and a $500,000 bonus if he is traded.
Eflin, 31, was part of an injury-plagued Orioles rotation in 2025, and was on the disabled list three times with side and back ailments. He finished with a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts despite a low 4.2 percent walk rate thanks to a drop in his strikeout rate and an increase in his home run rate allowed, a far cry from the 2.60 ERA he posted in nine starts with Baltimore after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2024 trade deadline.
Eflin, the Orioles’ Opening Day starter last season, figures to fit into the back end of Baltimore’s rotation in 2026 with a healthy Trevor Rogers coming off a breakout season, a healthy Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz, acquired from the Rays for a slew of prospects earlier this month.
Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells are among the other internal options for the Orioles, who could still expand the roster before the end of the winter.
Improving the rotation, which ranked 24th in the majors in ERA last season, was one of three priorities for the Orioles’ president of baseball operations. Mike Eliasthis winter, after his club, after two consecutive postseason appearances, finished last in a tight American League East Division with 75 wins.
He also firmly addressed the other two priorities this winter: adding a closer and a power right-handed pitcher, signing right-hander Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million contract; trading right-hander Grayson Rodriguez for outfielder Taylor Ward, who will become a free agent; and sign first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract.
The financial details of Elfin’s deal with the Orioles were first reported by MLB Network.
